Feature films on historical subjects
Estonia, 1872. The uncompromising new owner of Robber’s Rise must battle with hard work, his spiteful neighbor and with his own family and beliefs to transform the poor land into a flourishing farm of his dreams – to bring truth and justice to a god forsaken place.
Six-year-old Leelo’s mother is deported to a Siberian prison camp during Stalinist repressions. The little girl tries to be as good as she can in the belief that this will bring her mother back home.
The film tells about the events during the war of 1944 in Estonia, viewed by the Estonians fighting at the Red Army and German Army.
It is 3 AM on June 14, 1941. More than 40,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians are deported to Siberia by the authorities of Soviet Russia.
The historical drama directed by Hardi Volmer is a love story combining the elements of epopee and comedy, the grotesque of early silent film and the melodrama of the golden era of cinema.
The film is an Estonian-Georgian co-production about a wise Estonian man living in an Abkhazian village during the turbulent times of Abkhazian-Georgian military conflict in the autumn of 1992. The Estonian takes care of two wounded enemies, trying to help both men to find a human solution in this ruthless war.
The feature film directed by Antti J. Jokinen is based on the novel "Purge" (by Sofi Oksanen) that has been translated into more than 20 languages and that has received numerous literary awards, telling about political terror against a small nation and about mental as well as physical violence towards an individual.
Film consisting of ten parts about the events in the history of Estonian aviation and shipping in 1820–1938.
The first full-length feature directed by Asko Kase is an enthralling action drama based on true historical events about the Communist rebellion in Estonia held on December 1st, 1924.
The comedy directed by Kaaren Kaer and produced by Õ-Fraktsioon tells the story about the role of Estonians in European politics in 13th century through a witty parody about the cliches of historical films and the myths concerning the war of Estonian independence.
The debut film by director Elmo Nüganen is based on the novel "Names in Marble" by Albert Kivikas. The film is a patriotic war drama telling the story of schoolboys in the Estonian War of Independence and of the days and nights of these young volunteer fighters. The film is full of dangers, challenges, pain and exaltation, entwined by a beautiful story of young love.
The second full-length feature film directed by Hardi Volmer is an adventure comedy telling the story of Aleksander Kesküla, the legendary Estonian nationalist in early 20th century, and about his international intrigues when trying to form an independent national state.
The romantic adventure film directed by Jaan Kolberg tells the story about a 19th century noble knight whose fearlessness and elusiveness have made him a national hero.
The debut film by director Jüri Sillart depicts an Estonian village on the fatal day of March 25, 1949, when ten thousands of people were deported to Siberia.
The historical-psychological drama directed by Kaljo Kiisk tells about the four last days of Viktor Kingissepp, a professional revolutionary and a communist, in May 1922.
The romantic adventure film directed by Olav Neuland is a love story between a young thinker and the beautiful daughter of a vassal in medieval Estonia, when the last free villages were turned into feudal estates.
The film directed by Valentin Kuik is based on a true story about the life of Georg Lurich, famous Estonian wrestler, focusing on the scandalous theft of the collection of his prizes during the wrestling tournament in Tallinn in 1910.
The innovative author's film by Mark Soosaar with excellent camerawork combines documentary and fiction, telling the dramatic story during the Revolution of 1905 about the tragic destiny of Bernhard Laipmann, a reforming farmer who teaches people the ideas of enlightenment.
The drama based on the ballad of prose "The Pastor of Reigi" by Finnish-Estonian writer Aino Kallas depicts the conflict between the dogmatic philosophies, humanity and love.
Historical film directed by Kaljo Kiisk is observing the destiny of the dissenters in the bourgeois Estonia after the coup in December 1924.
Political adventure film directed by Grigori Kromanov is based on the novel "Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat" by Julian Semyonov. The film, based on true historical events, partly on real people and facts, became a cult film in Russia. Among others, the following Russian top actors play in the film: Aleksandr Kaidanovsky, Margarita Terekhova, Nikolay Volkov and Vladimir Ivashov. Also, several famous Estonian actors perform in the film.
Political adventure film directed by Grigori Kromanov is based on the novel "Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat" by Julian Semyonov. The film, based on true historical events, partly on real people and facts, became a cult film in Russia. Among others, the following Russian top actors play in the film: Aleksandr Kaidanovsky, Margarita Terekhova, Nikolay Volkov and Vladimir Ivashov. Also, several famous Estonian actors perform in the film.
The film directed by Kaljo Kiisk tells the story of Eduard Sõrmus, a charismatic musician and a revolutionary also known by the name The Red Violinist in Europe between the two great wars. The film is a co-production of Tallinnfilm and Defa (German Democratic Republic).
The historical-romantic adventure film directed by Grigory Romanov is based on the characters and motifs from the story "Prince Gabriel or the Last Days of Pirita Monastery" by Eduard Bornhöhe and on the events of 1968 in Europe. The song lyrics by Paul-Eerik Rummo and touch of humour add depth to the film that has reached the cult status in Estonia.
The war drama directed by Jüri Müür is based on the novel "The Two Selves of Enn Kalm" by Paul Kuusberg. It is the first, and so far the only Estonian feature film depicting the Estonian Rifle Corps in the World War II, including the forming process of the corps in the Urals, its battles held at Velikiye Luki, on Emajõgi River and the night battle of Tehumardi on Saaremaa island. Considering the year of the film, it is not free from propaganda; however, for the first time bold and epic battle scenes together with the war chronicles are presented in this film. The soundtrack "Song About the Faraway Home" (music by Eino Tamberg, lyrics by Ralf Parve) is still a popular soldier song today.
The debut feature film by Theodor Luts who himself took part in the Estonian War of Independence. It is the first Estonian war film that depicts young men from all over Estonia fighting for the freedom of their fatherland. The silent film consists of numerous spectacular battle scenes.
This national romantic drama filmed by Konstantin Märska tells the story of the life of ancient Estonians and the way they fought against the knights of Livonian Order. This was the first Estonian colorized full-length silent film that was entirely shot in nature.